WHAT’S MY PURPOSE? LAST WEEK, I was asked by someone who was close to me for years why I wasn’t interested in teaching etiquette courses to all children. “Why not Etiquette For Any Kid, instead of Etiquette For Little Black Boys? Should you expand?” To date, he has been the only one to openly phrase this question, though probably not the only one to think it. My answer: “No. For one, I’m not interested in tea parties. I also want to address what I believe to be a need and concentrate on what I know best.” He retorted: “I try to think limitless. [As a photographer] I couldn’t do Just Negro Photography.” I replied: “You think limitless, I think focused.” CONCENTRATED. FOCUSED. PURPOSEFUL. I’m no guru, but I believe it’s better do a few things well than many things poorly. We are already employers, employees, volunteers, children, Mothers, Fathers, sisters, brothers, Aunts, Uncles, deacons, PTA Presidents, board members, soccer coaches and whatever else life has called us to BE. Professionally, do we also need to specialize in everything? I think not. I don’t perform well with scattered energy. I’m bowing out of a triple-threat society and choosing instead to funnel all of my creative energy into refining the social graces of some little Black boys, who will one day lead by example and become some fine Black gentlemen.

WHAT’S MY PURPOSE?

LAST WEEK, I was asked by someone who was close to me for years why I wasn’t interested in teaching etiquette courses to all children. “Why not Etiquette For Any Kid, instead of Etiquette For Little Black Boys? Should you expand?” To date, he has been the only one to openly phrase this question, though probably not the only one to think it. My answer: “No. For one, I’m not interested in tea parties. I also want to address what I believe to be a need and concentrate on what I know best.” He retorted: “I try to think limitless. [As a photographer] I couldn’t do Just Negro Photography.” I replied: “You think limitless, I think focused.”

CONCENTRATED. FOCUSED. PURPOSEFUL. I’m no guru, but I believe it’s better do a few things well than many things poorly. We are already employers, employees, volunteers, children, Mothers, Fathers, sisters, brothers, Aunts, Uncles, deacons, PTA Presidents, board members, soccer coaches and whatever else life has called us to BE. Professionally, do we also need to specialize in everything? I think not. I don’t perform well with scattered energy. I’m bowing out of a triple-threat society and choosing instead to funnel all of my creative energy into refining the social graces of some little Black boys, who will one day lead by example and become some fine Black gentlemen.

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